The Foxhole Victory Tour by Amy Lynn Green

Vibrant and scrappy Maggie McCleod tried not to get fired from her wartime orchestra, but she can't keep from speaking her mind, so an overseas adventure with the USO's camp show seems like the perfect fresh start. Wealthy and elegant Catherine Duquette signs with the USO to leave behind her restrictive life of privilege and to find out what happened to the handsome pilot whose letters mysteriously stopped arriving. The two women are joined by an eclectic group of performers--a scheming blues singer, a veteran tap dancer, and a brooding magician--but the harmony among their troupe is shattered when their tour manager announces he will soon recommend one of them for a new job in the Hollywood spotlight. Each of the five members has a reason to want the contract, and they'll do whatever is necessary to get it. As their troupe travels closer to combat in Tunisia, personal crises and wartime dangers only intensify, until not only their careers but also their lives are on the line. 

I liked the focus of the book; there are a lot of WWII stories out there, but very few take place in the North African campaign and even fewer focus on the entertainment industry's part in promoting morale. I knew celebrities did tours, but I hadn't known about the smaller not famous groups that toured around, often in harsher and more dangerous conditions than their more famous counterparts to reach even the farthest troops.

The focus of this story is on two specific women of the troupe--arguably opposites outside of their love of music. But it's easy to see echoes of the two main characters in each of the other members of the troupe too: each has something to prove--either to themselves or others. Each took a step of faith by joining; each one has a secret holding them back.

For all that my personality is much more similar to Catherine's, I definitely connected more with Maggie, especially her struggle with loving music but not being able to articulate its value outside religious context; I think it's something many believing artists struggle with. 

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz

As 1754 is drawing to a close, tensions between the French and the British on Canada's Acadian shore are reaching a fever pitch. Seamstress Sylvie Galant and her family--French-speaking Acadians wishing to remain neutral--are caught in the middle, their land positioned between two forts flying rival flags. As British ships appear on the horizon, Sylvie encounters British Army Ranger William Blackburn, who warns her of the coming invasion. Rather than participate in the forced removal of the Acadians from their land, he resigns his commission. But that cannot save Sylvie or her kin. Relocated on a ramshackle ship to Virginia, Sylvie struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. When her path crosses once more with William's, they must work through the complex tangle of their shared, shattered past to navigate the present and forge an enduring future.

I hadn't known much about Acadia before reading this story--only that many Acadians ended up settling in Louisiana, but I didn't know why they moved to such a distant place. This story is very much a before and after one: life in Acadia, and then life deported. 

I'm a bit torn; I really appreciate it when an author is faithful to history, as Laura Frantz is in this novel depicting the deportation of the Acadians. But I really enjoyed the first half in the Acadian setting and would have loved to see the whole novel set there, with witness to the increasing conflict between the British and the French. There are plenty books about colonial Virginia and colonial slavery sentiments (many by Frantz herself), so that half didn't feel as fresh and new as the beginning, especially with the latter half's significant overlap with A Heart Adrift. It's realistic that the two halves are so different, but as a story I also would have appreciated more connection/relevance between the two.

It was still a good story, as I expect from Frantz. I'd love to hear more of Bleu's story!

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Most Anticipated Christian Fiction of 2024!

New titles revealed for 2024! Here are the one's I'm most looking forward to this year: (to be updated as fall titles are released)

  

January: The Seamstress of Acadie by Laura Frantz (Revell)

February: Rocky Road by Becky Wade (Indie) - Sons of Scandal, book 2

February: While the City Sleeps by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House) - Women of Midtown, book 1

  

February: A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell (Bethany House)

March: A Noble Scheme by Roseanna M. White (Bethany House) - The Imposters, book 2

March: If the Boot Fits by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 2

 

April: Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

June: The Hudson Collection by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House) - On Central Park, book 2

July: Meeting Her Match by Jen Turano (Bethany House) - The Matchmakers, book 3

 

In the Sweet Ever After by Melissa Tagg (Indie) - Maple Valley Romance, book 3

October: Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

Fall: __________ by Kristi Ann Hunter (Indie) - London Dreams, book 1

 

November: An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M White (Bethany House) - The Imposters, book 3

December: Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 3

December: The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen (Bethany House) - Sisters of Seaview, book 3

Favorite Books of 2023!

I did a lot of rereading over the course of the year, as well trying out a number of quasi-classics that I've neglected (Daphne du Marier, Georgette Heyer, Mary Stewart). But of the books published this year, there were definitely some outstanding ones (I even re-read The Rose and the Thistle midway through the year):  

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 The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz (Revell)

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House) - Texas Ever After, book 1

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theatre by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House)

Memory Lane by Becky Wade (Indie) - Sons of Scandal, book 1

Wedding at Sea by Melissa Tagg (Indie) - Muir Harbor, book 3

A Winter by the Sea by Julie Klassen - On Devonshire Shores, book 2

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home. Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she used to hold dear and her budding dreams for the future.

In a time of stress and busyness, I just really appreciated this gentle romance. I really liked both Emily and James. The book series reminds me of a British television mini series, with small town excitements and small town problems (though the the historical addition of the royal visit is perhaps more grand than one's usual small-town excitements). I really enjoyed how much location-specific history Klassen manages to weave into story, from the royal visitors to the inhabitants to the buildings and natural areas around Sidmouth.

I look forward to book 3 and hope it is about Claire! And that Sarah gets a happily ever after as well.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

On Devonshire Shores
1. The Sisters of Seaview
2. A Winter by the Sea

The Love Script by Toni Shiloh

Hollywood hair stylist Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood heartthrob Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic. Lamont Booker's bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent's push for a fake relationship--something he never thought he'd consider in a million years. With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

In spite of the fact that Hollywood and movie stars really are of no interest to me, Toni Shiloh wrote an intriguing story centered on precisely that, and it was really hard to put down. To my knowledge (not that I'm necessarily one to go by per this subject), it takes a realistic view of Hollywood style fame and how hard it is to be a person of integrity within it, even in a case where the temptation of the flesh isn't much of an issue; there's still paparazzi, internet trolls, and cancel culture just waiting for the appearance of a misstep, and the consequences of one person's fame can easily hurt innocents.

The story is generally light-hearted, but it definitely has depth. I love how Shiloh works solid spiritual content into the story, with exploration on church-going and deception. The characters were all great. I loved Rosie, and I really hope there will be books about Tuck and Piper and Chris!

To Spark a Match by Jen Turano - The Matchmakers, book 2

After five unsuccessful Seasons on the marriage mart, Miss Adelaide Duveen has resigned herself to the notion that she's destined to remain a spinster forever--a rather dismal prospect, but one that will allow her to concentrate on her darling cats and books. However, when she inadvertently stumbles upon Mr. Gideon Abbott engaged in a clandestine activity during a dinner party, Adelaide finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue that resembles the plots in the spy novels she devours. Former intelligence agent Gideon Abbott feels responsible for Adelaide after society threatens to banish her because of the distraction she caused to save his case. Hoping to return the favor, he turns to a good friend--and one of high society's leaders--to take Adelaide in hand and turn her fashionable. When danger surrounds them and Adelaide finds herself a target of the criminals in Gideon's case, the spark of love between them threatens to be quenched for good--along with their lives.

This is Jen Turano at her Turano-est: wacky social situations, adorable animals, a full cast of quirky characters, and very wordy (yet very funny) dialogue. I will confess a bit of jealousy toward Adelaide--I would really love to play with a grapple cannon, just for an afternoon. Adelaide has won the jackpot in Gideon. Granted, there's a lot more to him than just his extremely cool weapons stash; he's very considerate, chivalrous, and a man of unexpected talents (who'd have guessed embroidery?). But Adelaide is also perfect for him. They are neither complete opposites nor carbon copies--they land somewhere in the middle, and are very complimentary. Entertaining, as usual!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

The Matchmakers

1. A Match in the Making

2. To Spark a Match